District Line trains crashed into each other
 

On 12/05/2014 21:32, Richard J. wrote:

Basil Jet wrote on 12 May 2014 17:20:41 ...

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/district-line-trains-smashed-into-one-another-on-notorious-section-of-track-9353270.html


Dear me, District Dave's forum has banned all discussion about this
thankfully mild collision, and all u.t.l can do is debate the wording of
the press release/report.

The scrape occurred between East Putney and Southfields, on a section of
the District Line that used to be part of Southern Region BR. I
understand that LU now manage the stations, but that the signalling is
still operated by Network Rail. The key question, since it is alleged
that the incident was caused by movement of the track, is who now
maintains the track. LU (ex-Metronet) or Network Rail? And if the
latter, is it as a subcontractor to LU or as owner of the track?

LU is the infrastructure owner of the Wimbledon branch, and maintains it
in house (it's ex-Metronet).

The signalling is still done (under contract) by Network Rail, not sure
what the masterplan is here in terms of the SSL signalling upgrade and
continuing use by NR trains. The power comes from Network Rail too, but
I think there are plans for it to be provided by LU instead.

Point being, if the track was out of alignment, it's solely an LU
matter. I wonder if there's a drainage problem around there - just south
of East Putney where the line curves (next to Keswick Road) there's a
bit of a cutting, though it's nothing dramatic. And just south of that
there's a cut-and-cover tunnel under West Hill (aka the A3) - maybe it's
soggy it there?

They've banned mention of it on DD? Seems a bit OTT, but they do tend to
get a bit jumpy about such things.

District Line trains crashed into each other
 

In article , (Mizter T) wrote:

On 12/05/2014 21:32, Richard J. wrote:

Basil Jet wrote on 12 May 2014 17:20:41 ...



http://www.standard.co.uk/news/trans...smashed-into-o
ne-another-on-notorious-section-of-track-9353270.html


Dear me, District Dave's forum has banned all discussion about this
thankfully mild collision, and all u.t.l can do is debate the wording of
the press release/report.

The scrape occurred between East Putney and Southfields, on a section of
the District Line that used to be part of Southern Region BR. I
understand that LU now manage the stations, but that the signalling is
still operated by Network Rail. The key question, since it is alleged
that the incident was caused by movement of the track, is who now
maintains the track. LU (ex-Metronet) or Network Rail? And if the
latter, is it as a subcontractor to LU or as owner of the track?

LU is the infrastructure owner of the Wimbledon branch, and maintains
it in house (it's ex-Metronet).

The signalling is still done (under contract) by Network Rail, not
sure what the masterplan is here in terms of the SSL signalling
upgrade and continuing use by NR trains. The power comes from Network
Rail too, but I think there are plans for it to be provided by LU
instead.

Point being, if the track was out of alignment, it's solely an LU
matter. I wonder if there's a drainage problem around there - just
south of East Putney where the line curves (next to Keswick Road)
there's a bit of a cutting, though it's nothing dramatic. And just
south of that there's a cut-and-cover tunnel under West Hill (aka the
A3) - maybe it's soggy it there?

They've banned mention of it on DD? Seems a bit OTT, but they do tend
to get a bit jumpy about such things.

I always thought of it as quite a deep cutting when I used the footbridge
over it between Keswick Road and Lytton Grove as a child.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

District Line trains crashed into each other
 

On 13/05/2014 00:09, wrote:
[...]
Point being, if the track was out of alignment, it's solely an LU
matter. I wonder if there's a drainage problem around there - just
south of East Putney where the line curves (next to Keswick Road)
there's a bit of a cutting, though it's nothing dramatic. And just
south of that there's a cut-and-cover tunnel under West Hill (aka the
A3) - maybe it's soggy it there?
[...]

I always thought of it as quite a deep cutting when I used the footbridge
over it between Keswick Road and Lytton Grove as a child.


I was thinking of the view from footbridge as I wrote that - maybe what
I meant was that it's not *that* dramatic as a cutting, compared to many
out there.

...quick search...

View to the north from the footbridge:
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3415376

View to the south:
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3415382

Note that I've no idea if the scrape actually occurred on this stretch
of track.

District Line trains crashed into each other
 

On 12/05/2014 23:43, Paul Corfield wrote:
[Wimbledon branch]
I believe the track is maintained by LU and I think ownership moved to
LU a number of years ago. [...]

I think it was transferred at the time of rail privatisation in the mid
90's (ditto W&C line).

District Line trains crashed into each other
 

Sorry if this is stating the obvious but not every press release
reaches the TfL website. I've been sent releases by others that have
never materialised on the site.

Sorry. My mistake. Though it's an interesting interpretation of TfL's
commitment to transparency if this is material they "push" ;)

I know the Line General Manager in
question and he's perfectly competent and very experienced and will
have had media training. If the words got mangled along the way I
think I'd look to others as to who was doing the mangling!

My apologies for any offence.

--
Robin
reply to address is (meant to be) valid

District Line trains crashed into each other
 

In article , (Mizter T) wrote:

On 13/05/2014 00:09, wrote:
[...]
Point being, if the track was out of alignment, it's solely an LU
matter. I wonder if there's a drainage problem around there - just
south of East Putney where the line curves (next to Keswick Road)
there's a bit of a cutting, though it's nothing dramatic. And just
south of that there's a cut-and-cover tunnel under West Hill (aka the
A3) - maybe it's soggy it there?
[...]

I always thought of it as quite a deep cutting when I used the
footbridge over it between Keswick Road and Lytton Grove as a child.

I was thinking of the view from footbridge as I wrote that - maybe
what I meant was that it's not *that* dramatic as a cutting, compared
to many out there.

...quick search...

View to the north from the footbridge:
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3415376

View to the south:
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3415382

Note that I've no idea if the scrape actually occurred on this
stretch of track.

I think from the description it must have. There is no other cutting in the
vicinity. The railway is on embankment the other side of the tunnel.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

District Line trains crashed into each other
 

On 12/05/2014 23:57, Mizter T wrote:

On 12/05/2014 21:32, Richard J. wrote:

Basil Jet wrote on 12 May 2014 17:20:41 ...

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/district-line-trains-smashed-into-one-another-on-notorious-section-of-track-9353270.html



Dear me, District Dave's forum has banned all discussion about this
thankfully mild collision, and all u.t.l can do is debate the wording of
the press release/report.

The scrape occurred between East Putney and Southfields, on a section of
the District Line that used to be part of Southern Region BR. I
understand that LU now manage the stations, but that the signalling is
still operated by Network Rail. The key question, since it is alleged
that the incident was caused by movement of the track, is who now
maintains the track. LU (ex-Metronet) or Network Rail? And if the
latter, is it as a subcontractor to LU or as owner of the track?

LU is the infrastructure owner of the Wimbledon branch, and maintains it
in house (it's ex-Metronet).

The signalling is still done (under contract) by Network Rail, not sure
what the masterplan is here in terms of the SSL signalling upgrade and
continuing use by NR trains.

What's also going to happen between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Amersham when
they upgrade signals on that line?

The power comes from Network Rail too, but
I think there are plans for it to be provided by LU instead.

When do NR trains run in revenue service on the Wimbledon branch, BTW?

District Line trains crashed into each other
 

On 12/05/2014 23:43, Paul Corfield wrote:
On Mon, 12 May 2014 21:32:37 +0100, "Richard J."
wrote:

Basil Jet wrote on 12 May 2014 17:20:41 ...

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/trans...l?icn=ticker-2

Dear me, District Dave's forum has banned all discussion about this
thankfully mild collision, and all u.t.l can do is debate the wording of
the press release/report.

The scrape occurred between East Putney and Southfields, on a section of
the District Line that used to be part of Southern Region BR. I
understand that LU now manage the stations, but that the signalling is
still operated by Network Rail. The key question, since it is alleged
that the incident was caused by movement of the track, is who now
maintains the track. LU (ex-Metronet) or Network Rail? And if the
latter, is it as a subcontractor to LU or as owner of the track?

I believe the track is maintained by LU and I think ownership moved to
LU a number of years ago. Clearly SWT have retained their historic
running rights. The southern end of the line has been notorious for
years with poor drainage, wet beds, ponding etc. It also used to flood
causing signal failures whenever there was reasonably heavy rain. From
memory LU spent a lot of money to deal with the worst sections of
track so rain didn't kill the service. I would expect the line to have
had a fair amount of attention in recent years to get the route
prepared for S Stock deployment.

What are those green objects that are at track level by the end of every
station where S Stock runs, BTW?

District Line trains crashed into each other
 

wrote

On 12/05/2014 23:57, Mizter T wrote:

The power comes from Network Rail too, but
I think there are plans for it to be provided by LU instead.

When do NR trains run in revenue service on the Wimbledon branch, BTW?

When they feel like it.

As I and others have noted SWT passengers going home on any service that
passes Wimbledon occasionally (twice a year perhaps) find themselves using
these rails.

Inexperienced commuters are often a little startled.

--
Mike D

District Line trains crashed into each other
 

On 13/05/2014 23:33, Michael R N Dolbear wrote:

wrote

On 12/05/2014 23:57, Mizter T wrote:

The power comes from Network Rail too, but
I think there are plans for it to be provided by LU instead.

When do NR trains run in revenue service on the Wimbledon branch, BTW?

When they feel like it.

As I and others have noted SWT passengers going home on any service that
passes Wimbledon occasionally (twice a year perhaps) find themselves
using these rails.

Inexperienced commuters are often a little startled.

Is there any regularly NR scheduled service via the Wimbledon branch at
this point?